Shirt-waist.



, 4 PATENTBD APR. 5,1904, J. A. KENNEDY.

SHIRT WAIST APPLIOATION FILED APR. 11' 1903.

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4 WITWESSES 7? UNITED STATE Patented April 5, 1904.

JEAN A. KENNEDY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SHIRT-WAIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,240, dated April 5, 1904.

Application filed April 11, 1903- has for its object an improved shirt-waist of which the body part is made from three pieces of cloth united by somewhat curved vertical seams extending from the under arm-scye to the waistline and by two shoulder seams, each of which extends from the neck to the point of the shoulder. The vertical seam joins the under arm-scye back of its extreme lowermost point and extends in a diagonal rather than a vertical line nearly to the middle of the back, the two so-called vertical seams approaching closely together where they reach the waist-line at the back.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the shape of the back and one of the side pieces. Fig. 2 represents the shape of the small piece of skirting that runs from the middle of the back over the hip. Fig. 3 shows the appearance of the completed waist.

The back A is cut from a single piece of material, with the top line from a to I) reaching across the shoulder and the arm-scye curve between a and c and b and d extending down the back of the arm. The front B has at its upper rear corner the curve which forms most of the arm-scyeextending from near the back of the arm at the under side around under the arm up the front of the arm and- From f to g the cut is straight" Serial No. 152,118. (No model.)

eral course of the edge In about sixty degrees or somewhat more than sixty degrees to the line it is.

A skirt-piece C is substantially a quarter of a circular zone, with the line 2 3 long enough to extend from the middle of the back-piece A to a point that would come over the hips and which is always directly under the lowest part of the arm. The side edges of the backpiece A are curved, as in the ordinary back of a tailor-made gown.-

The parts are assembled by sewing the shoulder-seams together, sewing the vertical seams and placing the skirt 0 with the line 2 3 curving slightly in a direction reverse to that in which it is cut, causing the edge at 5 to stand out with a fullness that fits smoothly over the hip. The front is plaited at the lower edge with folds at 6, 7 8, and 9. At the point 7 the fold is outward, and the point 6 is brought to the point 7, making an infold at 6. The point 9 is brought to the point 7 with an outfold at 9 and an infold at 8. The waist is finished by inserting a sleeve of any suitable pattern and a collar of any suitable pattern. The fastening is at the front.

This shirt-waist presents a smooth fit at the back, a smooth fit over the bust without tucks or gathers. Nevertheless any amount of fullness over the bust may be produced by the extent to which the bias-cut at the back edge of the front piece is carried.

Preferably there is a tie-string 12 secured on the inside under the shirting C, attached to the waist as far to the front as the skirting extends and provided with ends by which it may be tied in front by the wearer.

In Fig. l the dotted lines from d r to (Z 8 show the changed shape required when great looseness over the breast of the wearer is required or when the garment is to be worn by a large-breasted person, the change required being to make the measurement from d s (which is near the middle of the back at the waist-line) over the point p of the bust and again to the middle of the back on the waistline correspondingly large. At the same time the bust-measure from 1", over 19, thence to d d 7' properly back from 70.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In a shirt-waist, a single piece for the back extending across the back between the arms and narrowing toward the waist, a side piece extending under the arm to the back in front of the arm up to the high point of the shoulder and thence to the middle front, also extending down the back to the waist and around the waist to the front, the rear part of the side piece being secured to a skirt-piece over the hip and the front part being adapted to be folded in plaits, substantially as described.

2. In a shirt-waist, the combination of a wedge-shaped single piece for the back, side pieces fitting closely over the bust, skirtpieces each of which engages the bottom edge of the back and partially along the bottom edge of a side piece the part of the side piece in front of the skirt being arranged for plaiting, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JEAN A. KENNEDY 

